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REUTERS/Rebecca Cook
Ernst & Young LLP Chairman & Chief Executive Officer James Turley takes part in a panel discussion in Detroit, Michigan, on June 16, 2009.
A Boy Scouts of America board member said a policy that bans gay scouts and leaders is not one he would “personally endorse” and he was working within the organization to “encourage dialogue” on it, the latest comments in a debate over the group’s membership rules.
James Turley, global chairman and CEO of consulting and tax firm Ernst & Young, said late Tuesday that his experience had led him “to believe that an inclusive environment” was “important throughout our society.”
“I support the meaningful work of the Boy Scouts in preparing young people for adventure, leadership, learning and service, however the membership policy is not one I would personally endorse,” he said in a statement first reported by CNBC. “ … I intend to continue to work from within the BSA Board to actively encourage dialogue and sustainable progress.”
His comments came after Jennifer Tyrrell, who was ousted from her post as a Tiger Cubs’ den leader in April because she is a lesbian, launched an online petition calling for the BSA board members like Turley, who head companies committed to gay rights, to speak out on the issue.
But another CEO and chairman named in the petition, AT&T’s Randall Stephenson, did not go as far as Turley.
“Diversity and inclusion are part of AT&T’s culture and operations, and we’re proud to be recognized as a leader in this area,” he said in a statement to CNBC. “We don’t agree with every policy of every organization we support, nor would we expect them to agree with us on everything. Our belief is that change at any organization must come from within to be successful and sustainable."
An AT&T spokesman did not immediately respond to a query seeking further comment from Stephenson on the issue. The Boy Scouts, volunteer and professional leadership said in a statement that it "respects the opinions" of its board members.
"While we have some supporters with different viewpoints on this issue, Scouting believes that good people can disagree on this topic and still work together for the common good," read the statement attributed to National President Wayne Perry and Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca.
Boy Scouts review controversial anti-gay policy
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Gay mom upset after dismissal by Boy Scouts
Last week, the Boy Scouts, a private group, said it was considering a resolution that calls for ending the 102-year-old policy. BSA spokesman Deron Smith said a resolution to allow local groups to set their own standards regarding gay members was turned in by a Scout leader from the Northeast ahead of the organization’s national annual meeting, which took place at the end of May.
“While we’ll carefully consider this resolution, there are no plans to change this policy,” Smith said, noting that resolutions and petitions on the matter were “not unique” and dated back to 2000, when the Supreme Court heard a challenge on their stance. (The justices sided with the Boy Scouts in the lawsuit involving a former assistant scoutmaster who was gay, citing the protections of the First Amendment).
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews
Jennifer Tyrrell and her son Cruz Burns, 7, during a visit to New York on April 25, 2012.
Ahead of the annual meeting, Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout son of lesbian mothers, had handed in a petition calling for the reinstatement of Tyrrell and an end to the policy.
He said he has had conversations with people inside the organization and has received an outpouring of support from other Eagle Scouts, with whom he will form a group to work to end the policy. "We're all feeling very positive about where we’re at,” he said last Wednesday.
Tyrrell served as den leader in her Bridgeport, Ohio, community for less than a year before her ouster. The 32-year-old stay-at-home mother of four said she agreed to take the position on the day she signed up her son, Cruz Burns, for the troop. She had concerns about the Boy Scouts' policy against homosexuals, but a cubmaster said that they wouldn’t have a problem locally.
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Leave a Comment:
James Turley is GAY............just saying.....
Turley has a wife and kids.
Just an FYI.....most straight folks and most fortune 500 companies don't share your homophobia.
I support the Boy Scouts anti-gay policy...
I have no use for gays..be they are married or single ...
If fa66ots want to start their own boy scout organization-fine, start one, in the meantime, leave this one alone. As the code states morally straight.
You are not clever in trying to hide your CoH violations. Reported.
The mods are very clear against the use of gay slurs.
Yeah, you clean it up around here!!
Any organization has a right to choose their membership. The Nazi Party and the KKK choose their membership as they see fit and are protected by the First Ammendment. They are not, however, endorsed by the local government entities, allowed to conduct membership drives at schools and have funds provided by United Way. If the Boy Scouts think that this is important enough for them to give up their funding source and rely soley on the people who are homophobic and discriminatory let them do it. If they want to continue to be endorsed by churches, schools and communities they should include all. ( and by the way , they do include girls now in the Venture Troops from 9th grade on) They can do whatever they please, but don't expect to continue to recieve funding as a hate group. If you want to influence their policy stop letting them meet in your church, don't let them use the group camp sites at the state park and don't buy their popcorn.
Having gay leaders in the cub scouts, girl scouts, and/or boy scouts is absolutely inappropriate. There are many times that these children are left alone with the leaders on trips, during activities, and camp outs. This is a topic that should never even be discussed. It's WRONG, WRONG WRONG in so many ways.
Once again, the most important thing is the safety and protection of our children. Once this basic fundamental is ignored, we put our children at risk. Being gay is a choice. Being in the scouts is a choice. Safety of our children is not a choice. It's a responsibility and an obligation by society.
There is strict 2 deep leadership in all levels of scouting. No child is ever left alone with a leader on a trip or any other time. If you were involved in Scouting, you would know this.
Provide proof homosexuals risk the safety of your children more than heterosexuals. Pedophilia is not an appropriate argument, as pedophilia does not necessarily care for the gender of its victims, and is illegal anyway. They are no more likely to be homosexual than they are heterosexual, presenting no increased risk.
Chuck:
Your children are more likely to be molested by a straight family member or friend. For your children's sake...I hope you have educated them.
I should have been warned about my own grandfather. The other people I have met over the years who were also molested had similar experiences.
Stick your head in the sand if you must. Hope it makes you feel better. But, living in ignorance could be dangerous for your children.
Chuckie Cheese
You have NO idea what you're talking about so please STOP.
Barry wants Barney Flank to be president of homoscouts and Ellen Degenrate for lesboscouts, only problem is Roseane Barr wants in on the action and so does Sandusky they all want to love on the children
Homosexual humans are a myth. Humans are and can be proven as heterosexual creatures. Only by someone making a mental choice to respond to physical stimulus does our society have same sex attraction or any other attraction.
There is absolutely NO evidence or proof that a human is or can be homosexual.
There is way too much confusion over what a person is compared to what they think.
Attractions and other mentally based affecters are the result of activity within the mind. The mind does not set reality. It only responds to it. Insanity is when a person’s mind fails to respond to reality which is what happens with anyone who claims to be gay or napoleon or that the sky is red. All of these have the same mental issue. Refusal to acknowledge reality.
Two men on an island for 60 years and we all know what will be there at the end. No more than two men.
A man and a woman on an island for 60 years and we all would be surprised NOT to see a lot of kids.
Now which one proves to be real? It is just common sense which is not that common after all.
Outstanding post......reproductive laws of nature do not allow a homosexual species or subspecies. Said homo species would perish after one generation with absolutely no way to reproduce offspring. Now Sarah will bring up implanting embryos in a lesbian(fertilized by a mans sperm) and try to show this as evidence of reproduction,we all know this isnt natural.
Science has also been able to locate any gene,chromosome,DNA, nothing that makes people gay. They want to say Homo is normal,while there is no scientific evidence that has been found to cause this behavior in humans. Simple facts not bs propoganda,like Uh huh because I think being gay is ok,well then everybody has to accept it. The Champions of tolerance are not so tolerant after all.
@LaVall
When was the the most recent longevity study on human survival during isolation on an island to support your claim? I wonder how the lawyers would write up that consent to participate. What an awesome reality show it could be...
Incorrect. Science has located dozens of possible genetic combinations and triggers, but "proof" requires that the individuals report back to the studies well after birth and be honest about their sexuality.
Doesn't the hundreds of thousands of homosexuals provide some sort of proof?
LaVall .. no doubt 'scientific proof' from a study conducted by Oral Roberts 'University' in conjunction with Liberty 'University'?
Boy Scouts is for boys, not girls, not gays, period. I wish the leaders would stand up and grow some hair. It is a private organization and they set the rules and should stick to them regardless of minority pressure. If the oppositation does not like it then they should start their own group. I am very tired of the liberals and bleeding hearts running this country down. Let's see how the Girl Scouts handle allowing lesbians and boys into their group. Stop this publicity seeking faction from attempting intregration and causing lawyers to gain where all else lose.
I agree Boys scouts is for Boys not girls or something else. I wouldn't want my child to be part of something that is not right. Please, don't change the Boys scout law. I am tired that everything has to be change because a group said so. Maybe they can create their own group and be done with this nonsense. Boys scouts is for Boys.
Homosexual boys are still boys, and no risk to the other boys.
Allswell: Oh there is risk. Risk that the homo's will get their ass kicked for being GAY.
@ the truth - can you provide pugilism statisitics in reference to the "get their ass kicked for being GAY" statement? Well?
No but I can start by kicking your ass. Straights 1 Homos 0
I never claimed to be gay, I just wanted to know how much you feel you know about the @!$%# spewing from your man pleaser. You talk the talk, but your walk may not end the way your family will like. Since you seem to be into little boys fighting, which is where this stemmed from, did you get punk'd on the playground little man? Did a big bully wully smack your zit covered face around in front of your 'buddies' while they laughed and pointed at you? Did your mean ol' dad get pissed drunk when he found out your got your junk kicked on the ground like a rock? He was mad, huh? He spit in your face and made you wear girl clothes and walk out in the rain singing about strawberry shortcake and her little dollie friends. (this does sound wicked, but I feel I am close) I am sure you do not want to start kicking anything but your keyboard right now, punk!! BFD - 1 The 'Troof'- 0
TSSB!!!
The gay Marines I know would be happy to take you up on that offer of a fight.
This is your only rebuttal? Sad.
Also reported for threatening other viners and threatening the injury of a group of people. Violation of the CoH.
Is The Truth playing with his mom's computer AGAIN?
I think if the Gay community would start there own GBSA it would really show the BSA how everybody agrees with them....I'm sure the BSA would be devastated by the lose of all there scouts to the GBSA.
the beat goes on, yeah the beat goes on.
its terrible that we have pedophile priests but quite alright for boy scout leaders to be three dollar bills
how so..... how so?
Why does disagreement have to be hate? I have gay friends, but I don't agree with what they do. The BSA has the right to uphold the moral standards they have in place. I will continue to assert that the gay lifestyle is a problem that needs help, not something to accept.
The Boy Scouts job is to prepare young people for adventure, leadership, learning and service. Why do children need to know a person does in their bedroom? Furthermore, Homosexuality is a choice and the LGBT community has a proud pedophile organization called "NAMBLA". They PROMOTE love between men/boys as being harmless, compassionate and caring. Homosexuals have low too no morals. Lawsuits. Lawsuits and more Lawsuits if the BSA allows gays.
I thought it was the N-orth A-merican M-arlon B-rando L-ook A-likes.
NAMBLA is not supported by the LGBT community. Pedophilia is illegal as a violation of legal consent.
@allswell - Agreed...very nice stroke of the keyboard. Why anyone would want to look like Marlon Brando...baffling!
This guy is a three dollar bill. Throw him out and keep your policy intact.
Which guy?
@SarahthegayChampion---
The facts are that 1 out of 2 gay men will contract HIV/AIDS in their lifetime at the current rate. There is no other sector of people with anything in the same galaxy much less ballpark. It is very much a "gay disease",not exclusive to gays but predominant in them. The burden on the damn failing health care system is unmeasurable to treat and keep these patients alive,which if not for their alternate sick lifestyle they would have a better chance of being hit by lightning than contracting HIV.
Those are facts,quite contrary to the information you pose as factual.
Facts are lesbians have rates of HIV contraction far less than heterosexuals. The burden of a failing health care system to take care of non-lesbians is unmeasurable.
This is fact, quite contrary to the twist you attempt to spin as factual.
Obviously, we must outlaw all non-lesbian relationships for the good of our "health care system".
Here are some FACTS on AIDS...always busy researching stuff
http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/fastfacts-msm-final508comp.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/index.htm
I remember when there was the RIF (Reading is Fundamental) van that used to cruise around the hood.
Cowboy fool
Uh...... Africa??? Hellllllllo?????? It was running rampant. Stupid
the road to hell is paved with good intentions. people like this guy need to just shut up and leave things alone
I am so sick and tired of these BSing CEOs that think their opinion is so important. Why don't these organizations like the BSA get a real everday person that gets up and goes to work and have raised to men that were boy scouts & rose to the rank of Eagle Scout to set on the board. Not some Ahole that probably never was a scout. I am also tired of the bleeding heart liberal media ramming the lgbt issue down out throats as these people are the majority of the population or that their lifstyle is normal. Neither are further from the truth. I would never want either one of my boys in a scout troop with a outwardly homosexual leader. Get your on damn organization and leave ours alone damn it!!!
joe
I met some eagle scouts during my time as an army medic and they were brave men
however in each case they didn't follow procedure so the joke that followed was that
the puple heart was and indication of being stupid or they needed a badge to prove they were there.
my nephew is an eagle scout and i'm proud of his accomplishment. In the real world being an eagle
scout is not worth that much.
They is a reason they are called BOY Scouts. Like there is a reason there are GIRL Scouts. Start a new group called ??? Scouts for those that aren't sure! What a bunch of freaks.
Homosexuals retain the same gender they always have.
They are not the "Straight Scouts".
Now be careful, the Transgenders might have a few ideas to explain to you. I do agree the chromosomes do not change, so yes they do stay the same biologically, but physically it is possible.
LOL
What a bunch of bigots those who are trying to force gays into scouts are!!!! Oh so its okay to have your gay clubs and organizations yet that's not enough, now you want to force your way into a private club that has a different set of standards? Shame on you! If you want gay scout clubs, start your own club , don't try to take ours away! What's this hate crap? Girls are not allowed into the cub scouts and boy scouts either - does that mean they hate them? Follow their lead and start rainbow scouts or something... More ridiculous logic from a seriously selfish group of people.
This country WAS and still IS based on religious FREEDOM. "Duty to God" as with "Under one God" only refers to a persons OWN sense of God - Not your God - or your God - but each and everyone's personal God and the fact that in THIS country we have the inalienable right to believe in any God we wish.
Keep religion out of this debate -
Yes! Keep the gays as far away from our GIRLS & BOYS as possible! Let the gays keep their own corrupt ways!
The Girl Scouts have no problem at all with gay members or gay leaders.
It seems only the Boy Scouts are dumb bigots. They really haven't changed much since when they had racially segregated troops. No surprise since the BSA is run by Mormons and Southern Baptists.
The bullets in my gun do not distinguish color of skin, so it would seem my pistol is racist? STFUYSMF!!!
Vote to Toke!!!
America was built on "RELIGIOUS FREEDOM" from England. Just because the liberals think we should always do what they think is politically correct, doesn't always make it so. The Scouts were built on morals, which the minority of the people, think should be changed or forced down everyone throat. Enough is enough with all this garbage. If your not content, move to a communist country. Some people just have to stir up trouble to satisfy their warped since of values. The scouts have VALUES, which have been around for 100 years. If you don't agree, don't join. But to try and change a private organization just because it doesn't suit your needs is totally selfish, self centered and ignorant. KEEP THE SCOUT POLICY THE WAY IT IS. It has proven to be CORRECT for thousands of BOYS all these years.
I'd say the only reason they will keep this guy on the board, is if ernst & whitney gives them a s*^t load of money, other wise he is off. besides, all the "straight" pedo scoutmasters don't want the competition. be on the lookout for more scot master pedos, BSA has several thousand on file, like the catholics did with their priests. get caught in one state, move to another state and troop. BSA covers it up. boy scouts are like the nra and religious groups, just fronts for neo con social engineering.
Hey Jim - don't look now but they are already here oh no............. Oh yea they are already in the military, business, social circles, shopping centers - EVERYWHERE you go.
No one is trying to "force" gays into Scouting. Only to include those whose parents might be gay or are gay themselves. INCLUSION.
Just so you are clear - I am married, hetero, son in Scouts and have been taught to tolerate and accept by my parents.